January 6, 2014 at 07:10x86-compatible, part 3: “86Duino strikes back”
In the first part of the article, I talked about DMP Electronics , a little-known Taiwanese manufacturer of x86-compatible processors of the Vortex86 family , as well as motherboards and computers based on them. In the second part, I promised to give the comparative characteristics of the Vortex86MX processor , and to review the computer eBox-3300MX based on it. Unfortunately, for reasons beyond my control, the second part is not finished yet, and I am forced to publish the third part before the second. In the third part, we will talk about Arduino.
UPD 01/15/2014: The manufacturer asked to be informed that there will be delivery to Russia, and there is no need to ask about it by e-mail. Unfortunately, production is delayed for 2-3 weeks for technical reasons, and the product will appear in stock in the 2nd week of February.
Within a month, Intel announced the start of sales of the first x86-compatible Arduino controller , and DMP Electronics has already released its version of the board based on its own Vortex86EX processor . The new board is called 86Duino . (Click on the photo to enlarge - carefully, traffic!) The board is available in two versions: the cheaper (and less “sophisticated") 86Duino ZERO , and the more expensive 86Duino ONE
. Unlike Intel Galileo, both 86Duino versions are modular - the processor module is attached to the daughter board using a 128-pin connector. Thus, those who wish can only purchase a processor module ( pictured below ), and design the peripheral board themselves, according to their needs. Characteristics of the Vortex86EX SOM-128-EX processor module:
The processor itself contains 32KB L1 cache (16KB data cache, 16KB instruction cache) and 128KB L2 cache. I note that the size of the L2 cache is 2 times smaller than that of the previous generation of processors from the Vortex86 family (apparently, this was caused by an attempt to reduce the cost of the final product), but at the same time, this is the first processor in the line using DDR3 RAM (all other processors used DDR2). The Vortex86EX is available in a 288-pin LBGA package and has a TDP of 2 watts (max. 3 watts).
In addition to two modifications of the boards, the device is also offered in an assembled closed case “a la eBox”, but with holes on top for sticking wires ( 86Duino EduCake) Case size - 78.0 x 78.6 x 28.3mm. EduCake is good in that all the connectors brought out are standard, and you don’t have to solder anything or buy special connectors, as is the case with 86Duino ZERO / ONE. And you can also screw it on the back of the LCD monitor, if it supports the VESA mounting standard .
DMP Electronics did not trust 86Duino sales to distributors like Mouser (as Intel did with Galileo ), but “got on its knees” with its own online-shop: shop.dmp.com.tw/INT . The prices for the devices are shown in the table below (when ordering directly from their store in Taiwan, excluding shipping costs):
As we can see, the price of the 86Duino base board with a processor module is comparable to the price of the Raspberry Pi model B (only $ 4 more expensive - $ 39 versus $ 35). Yes, 86Duino does not have VGA / HDMI or any video output at all (except for redirecting the console via the COM port). But then there is RTC ( real-time clock ) and a full-fledged PCIe 1x port, which are not in the Raspberry Pi, and a separate Ethernet controller (whereas in the Raspberry Pi it is connected via a USB hub).
Today, an announcement is hanging in the DMP Electronics online store that the test batch of devices has already been sold out, and a new batch will appear on January 15, that is, after 10 days. And here is KolibriOS, you ask? The answer is very simple: this is the cheapest x86-compatible computer produced to date.
Design of 86 Duino is fully open-source:
UPD 01/15/2014: The manufacturer asked to be informed that there will be delivery to Russia, and there is no need to ask about it by e-mail. Unfortunately, production is delayed for 2-3 weeks for technical reasons, and the product will appear in stock in the 2nd week of February.
Within a month, Intel announced the start of sales of the first x86-compatible Arduino controller , and DMP Electronics has already released its version of the board based on its own Vortex86EX processor . The new board is called 86Duino . (Click on the photo to enlarge - carefully, traffic!) The board is available in two versions: the cheaper (and less “sophisticated") 86Duino ZERO , and the more expensive 86Duino ONE
. Unlike Intel Galileo, both 86Duino versions are modular - the processor module is attached to the daughter board using a 128-pin connector. Thus, those who wish can only purchase a processor module ( pictured below ), and design the peripheral board themselves, according to their needs. Characteristics of the Vortex86EX SOM-128-EX processor module:
- Processor - Vortex86EX (1x 32-bit x86 core @ 300MHz)
- Memory - 128MB DDR3 RAM (16 bit); 8MB SPI flash
- Networking - 10/100 Ethernet MAC + PHY
- Standard I / O:
- SATA
- USB 2.0
- 10x COM
- 8x ADC
- 80x GPIO
- DMA and interrupt controllers
- MTBF counter
- Configurable I / O (not all available at the same time):
- COM with TX / RX only
- RS485 auto direction
- SPI 1 or 2
- Parallel port
- SD / eMMC
- I2C, CAN, PS / 2
- Hd audio
- Ethernet LED watchdog
- MCM (motion control module)
- Expansion buses:
- PCIe control and target interfaces
- xISA bus
- Operating temperature - 0 to 60 ℃
- Operating system - Linux, Windows Compact 7.0, QNX, VxWorks, DOS
The processor itself contains 32KB L1 cache (16KB data cache, 16KB instruction cache) and 128KB L2 cache. I note that the size of the L2 cache is 2 times smaller than that of the previous generation of processors from the Vortex86 family (apparently, this was caused by an attempt to reduce the cost of the final product), but at the same time, this is the first processor in the line using DDR3 RAM (all other processors used DDR2). The Vortex86EX is available in a 288-pin LBGA package and has a TDP of 2 watts (max. 3 watts).
In addition to two modifications of the boards, the device is also offered in an assembled closed case “a la eBox”, but with holes on top for sticking wires ( 86Duino EduCake) Case size - 78.0 x 78.6 x 28.3mm. EduCake is good in that all the connectors brought out are standard, and you don’t have to solder anything or buy special connectors, as is the case with 86Duino ZERO / ONE. And you can also screw it on the back of the LCD monitor, if it supports the VESA mounting standard .
DMP Electronics did not trust 86Duino sales to distributors like Mouser (as Intel did with Galileo ), but “got on its knees” with its own online-shop: shop.dmp.com.tw/INT . The prices for the devices are shown in the table below (when ordering directly from their store in Taiwan, excluding shipping costs):
| Name | Description | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vortex86EX SOM-128-EX | Processor module | 32 $ | By special order only |
| 86Duino ZERO | Base board with processor module | 39 $ | |
| 86Duino ONE | Advanced board with processor module | 69 $ | |
| 86Duino EduCake | The device in an assembled closed case | 49 $ |
Today, an announcement is hanging in the DMP Electronics online store that the test batch of devices has already been sold out, and a new batch will appear on January 15, that is, after 10 days. And here is KolibriOS, you ask? The answer is very simple: this is the cheapest x86-compatible computer produced to date.
Design of 86 Duino is fully open-source:
- The BIOS uses Coreboot
- Vortex86EX processor datasheet
- Circuits Schematics for DM-205 (Vortex86EX SOM-128-EX)
- Circuits Schematics for DM-222 (Daughter Board)
- BOM / Part List for DM-222 (Daughter Board)
- Gerber file for DM-222 (Daughter Board)
- Sources 86Duino IDE (Integrated Development Environment) uploaded to GitHub